Lett Reportedly Tests Positive For Cocaine

DALLAS — Defensive tackle Leon Lett of the Dallas Cowboys has received word that he tested positive for cocaine and faces a one-year suspension by the NFL, a source said Thursday.

Lett is appealing his suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy, the source said. If his appeal is denied, Lett could be suspended before the end of the season.

If the appeal is upheld, Lett could escape suspension.

The NFL suspended Lett for four games last season for violating its substance-abuse policy. As a result, he's now tested two to 10 times per month. A second positive test carries an automatic one-year suspension.

''Don't put anything I say into the paper because you're going to write what you want to anyway,'' Lett said as he sat in his car after Sunday's 21-10 victory over the Washington Redskins at Texas Stadium. ''But if the league messed up my test, then how could it be positive? I haven't failed any drug test.''

Lett's appeal centers on a procedural error by the NFL regarding his urine sample.

A hearing was held Tuesday to determine whether the chain of custody - the sequential procedure - regarding Lett's sample was followed, the source said.

If the chain of custody was broken, the results of the sample could be discarded. The hearing involved the NFL, representatives for Lett and the person responsible for collecting the samples from the Cowboys.

When a player receives a positive test result, the league sends a letter to the player, and a copy is sent to the team. Over the next five days, the player can appeal the test results. If he does, he's entitled to a hearing.